U.S. Ambassador assures Mexico that the U.S. is not to blame for the increase in violence in Sinaloa.

In a recent development, U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar refuted claims made by Mexico’s president that the U.S. shares responsibility for the recent spike in violence among rival cartel factions in northern Sinaloa.

The violence erupted in Culiacán, prompting fears as two warring groups of the Sinaloa cartel vie for dominance, following the arrest of two key cartel leaders in the U.S. in July.

During a press conference in Chihuahua, Salazar expressed disbelief over the notion that the U.S. is accountable for the increasing violence, stating, "It is incomprehensible how the United States can be responsible for the massacres we see in different places."

The unrest was anticipated as rival factions, along with law enforcement, engage in intense skirmishes. Helicopters patrol the skies, and military presence is heavily felt throughout the streets of Culiacán. Residents are increasingly anxious about the safety of their children and the stability of their communities.

A grim scene unfolds as bodies are abandoned throughout the city, often adorned with sombreros or marked with pizza boxes and knives, representing cruel symbols of the ongoing cartel wars.

Local officials reported at least 53 fatalities and numerous missing individuals since the conflict intensified. In response, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador placed blame on American officials, asserting, "Yes, of course … for having carried out this operation," referring to the U.S. actions that contributed to the unrest.